March 29, 2014

             Success in Germany, Ditto in New York, disaster declared, Niagara Wine Trail expands event, and much more happening in New York wine country.

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

                Last week several of us crossed "the pond" to staff a "New York Wine" booth at the massive Prowein wine trade show in Dusseldorf--with encouraging results.

                First, some perspective on our competition: There were 4,830 exhibitors from 48 countries, including massive exhibits of German, French, Spanish, Italian, Australian, South African and other countries' wines.  There were also more than 48,000 trade visitors during the three days of the show, including importers, distributors, restaurateurs, retailers, wine educators, and others.  While based in Germany, Prowein is truly an international show, with double the number of visitors this year vs. last from Hong Kong and Shanghai.

                 Along with our neighbors from California, Oregon, and Washington, we saw, spoke with, and poured samples for a steady flow of people who mostly (1) "knew" New York only as a city, (2) were surprised that it's also a large state with more than 350 wineries, and (3) were even more surprised at the quality of the wines.  We were also honored to have U.S. Ambassador to Germany John Emerson (a native New Yorker) visit our booth with his entourage.

                  Export is a long-term process: You've gotta be there for several years to be taken seriously, and it was clear this year that we now are.  Christian Claessens, the importer of New York wines into Europe, received more than 30 requests for pricing and follow-up information which we are confident will translate into sales.  Having "feet on the street" after a trade show is key to turning conversations into commerce, and we're delighted that "New York Wines S.a.r.l." can make that happen.

                  Susan Spence, Vice President of the Foundation, does a great job managing the entire export program, which will next go to London in May and Hong Kong in November. We are grateful to Philip Dunsmore of Brotherhood Winery, Bob Madill of Red Newt and Glenora, and Wendy Oakes Wilson of Leonard Oakes winery for staffing the busy booth with us.  And we're also very grateful to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service for making this possible under the Market Access Program.

                   Some people wonder why we're spending time and money on export when there's still so much work to do at home (which we are also doing).  It's simple: As our industry continues to expand rapidly, we need to find new markets so our wineries aren't cannibalizing each other's market share.

          The aftermath of our "NY Drinks NY" Grand Tasting on March 13 at Astor Center continues to confirm that the Big Apple is ready and eager to discover New York wines.

          The amount of positive media coverage both before and after has been huge, and undoubtedly more will come.  As one example, it is worth quoting the opening and closing comments from noted wine blogger Ed McCarthy (WineReviewOnline): "I had tasted these wines from time to time over the years, but until I attended this tasting, I had not realized what heights of quality New York State wines had reached in the cumulative years".  And, after an extensive review of wines tasted, the final paragraph: "Even though the New York Grand Tasting did not involve some of the state's celebrated wineries, I left the tasting convinced that the state is now producing some of the best wines in the country, at least for my palate.  And the wines are really value-priced, especially those from the Finger Lakes.  My highlights include its superb dry rose wines, its really fine Rieslings, its exceptional sparkling wines, and perhaps the nicest surprise of all for me, New York's vastly improved red wines."

           In addition, thanks to Governor Cuomo's Taste NY program, the popular Michael Jordan Steakhouse at Grand Central Terminal is now featuring two New York wines from Pindar Vineyards: Sunflower Chardonnay, and Reserve Cabernet. 

            Big Apple: Meet the Great Grape.

                      "Niagara Wine Trail" has expanded its popular "Taste of the Trail" food pairing event to two weekends in order to accommodate the increasing number of people who want to enjoy it.  On April 4-6, and 11-13, two different groups of wineries will educate consumers about how wine can easily pair with various foods, often supplied by local vendors.

                      The highly affordable $20 per person one-weekend ticket includes a commemorative wine glass from the first winery visited, plus a food sample and tasting of three wines at each winery.  Information about the participating wineries, food-pairings, and ordering advance tickets is available at www.niagarawinetrail.com.

                       Winter of 2013-14 has been a doozy in New York's upstate regions (though not as severe in the Hudson Valley or on Long Island), with the extremely cold temperatures doing damage to many buds and perhaps some vines, though we still don't know the extent of it and may not for a while.

                       Fortunately, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer alerted the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Senator Gillibrand wrote a formal letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose agency issued an agriculture disaster declaration for the counties most affected.  This will allow grape growers who suffer damage faster and easier access to any of the relief programs available to help them compensate for the losses.  Only time will tell how much will be needed.

                       There will undoubtedly be a smaller than normal crop this year, but the good news is that the 2013 harvest was huge, and of great quality, so the tanks are brimming with lots of great wine to fill the shelves, please the restaurants, and allow consumers to continue buying New York's best.

                 "I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial."

                                                                   -- Thomas Jefferson